Lake Karapiro is a hydro lake on the Waikato River near Cambridge, 30km south-east of Hamilton.
The lake was created in 1947 to store water for the Karapiro hydro power station. It is the last of eight hydro dams on the Waikato River.
[image:354:half:right]Lake Karapiro was used as the rowing venue for the 1950 British Empire Games and also for the World Rowing Championships in 1978. This was the last time the event has been staged in New Zealand.
Facilities at the lake include high performance centre run by Rowing New Zealand. This is the headquarters of RNZ.
A temporary stand has been erected for this event, the largest temporary stand ever used in New Zealand.
It stretches 142 metres and will provide covered seating for 6000 spectators and open seating for another 4000.
The recently opened Don Rowlands Centre at the lake is being used as a media centre and headquarters for FISA, the international rowing organisation, which is running the event.
The event is expected to attract 80,000 spectators over the nine days.
With no significant public parking space at the venue, spectators are being encouraged to use park and ride facilities set up in near by Cambridge. Free shuttle buses will be running each day between 7am - 8.30pm.
The venue, on the Mighty River Domain, will include giant screens, shops and live music and entertainment.
